What would it cost to meet Arizona teachers' demands?

Noah Karvelis and Dylan Wegela, both teachers and leaders in Arizona Educators United, list their demands during a #RedForEd rally at the Arizona state Capitol. David Wallace/azcentral.com

Rebecca Garelli, a seventh grade science teacher at Sevilla West School in Phoenix, speaks during a #RedForEd rally at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix on March 28, 2018.(Photo: David Wallace/The Republic)

Organizers with Arizona Educators United, the grassroots group that started the state's #RedForEd movement, announced a list of demands of Gov. Doug Ducey and the Legislature before thousands of educators and supporters at a rally Wednesday at the Capitol.

The top demand: 20 percent raises for the state's teachers.

But there are also demands for more money for students.

What would it take for Arizona to meet teachers' demands for more pay and funding for schools? Here's how it would break down:​​​​​​

Teacher raises

What educators are demanding: 20 percent raises for Arizona teachers.

What it would take: The total price tag for such a raise is unclear.

State officials have estimated a 1 percent pay hike for teachers costs about $34 million. That means a 20 percent raise, by similar calculations, could cost the state about $680 million.

The median pay for Arizona elementary teachers is $42,474, when adjusted for cost of living. A 20 percent increase would amount to $8,495, for a total of $50,969.

CLOSE

Thousands of #RedForEd Arizona teachers rally for more education funding at the state Capitol in Phoenix on March 28, 2018. Thomas Hawthorne/azcentral.com

That increase would still place an Arizona elementary teacher who makes the median salary below the national median of $55,800, as well as below pay medians for neighboring state such as New Mexico ($59,047) and Utah ($54,814).

Here are some additional examples of what such a raise would mean for teachers:

A new teacher in Mesa Public Schools, the state's largest school district, who makes the base salary of $38,500: An increase of $7,700, for a new salary of $46,200.

An Arizona high-school teacher who earns the state's median of $47,890: A $9,578 increase for a new total of $57,468.

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

Noah Karvelis, (center) a teacher and leader in Arizona Educators United, speaks as Dylan Wegela, also a teacher and leader in Arizona Educators United, listens as they list their demands for Arizona leaders during a #RedForEd rally at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix on Wednesday, March 28, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Rebecca Garelli, a seventh grade science teacher at Sevilla West School in Phoenix, speaks during a #RedForEd rally at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix on March 28, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Thomas Webb-Sandoval, an eighth grade math teacher, and Crystal Carrera, a third grade teacher, both with Tres Rios Service Academy in Tolleson, attend a #RedForEd rally at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix on March 28, 2018. Carrera made the t-shirts and said she could probably make more selling these T-shirts than she does teaching. David Wallace/The Republic

Organizers of Arizona Educators United group announced their demands of Gov. Doug Ducey and the Legislature for education funding during a rally at the Arizona state Capitol on March 28, 2018. Nick Oza/The Republic

Organizers of Arizona Educators United group announced their demands of Gov. Doug Ducey and the Legislature for education funding during a rally at the Arizona state Capitol on March 28, 2018. Nick Oza/The Republic

Organizers of Arizona Educators United group announced their demands of Gov. Doug Ducey and the Legislature for education funding during a rally at the Arizona state Capitol on March 28, 2018. Nick Oza/The Republic

Organizers of Arizona Educators United group announced their demands of Gov. Doug Ducey and the Legislature for education funding during a rally at the Arizona state Capitol on March 28, 2018. Nick Oza/The Republic

Organizers of Arizona Educators United group announced their demands of Gov. Doug Ducey and the Legislature for education funding during a rally at the Arizona state Capitol on March 28, 2018. Nick Oza/The Republic

Organizers of Arizona Educators United group announced their demands of Gov. Doug Ducey and the Legislature for education funding during a rally at the Arizona state Capitol on March 28, 2018. Nick Oza/The Republic

Organizers of Arizona Educators United group announced their demands of Gov. Doug Ducey and the Legislature for education funding during a rally at the Arizona state Capitol on March 28, 2018. Nick Oza/The Republic

Organizers of Arizona Educators United group announced their demands of Gov. Doug Ducey and the Legislature for education funding during a rally at the Arizona state Capitol on March 28, 2018. Nick Oza/The Republic

Organizers of Arizona Educators United group announced their demands of Gov. Doug Ducey and the Legislature for education funding during a rally at the Arizona state Capitol on March 28, 2018. Nick Oza/The Republic

Lindsay Breon, a physical education teacher at Washington Elementary School in Phoenix, shouts into a megaphone while rallying to support teachers during a #RedForEd rally at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix on March 28, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Alyce Robinson of Goodyear, and her children (from left) Camry, Owen and Blair rally to support teachers during a #RedForEd rally at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix on March 28, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Lindsay Breon, a physical education teacher at Washington Elementary School in Phoenix, shouts into a megaphone while rallying to support teachers during a #RedForEd rally at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix on March 28, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Lindsay Breon, a physical education teacher at Washington Elementary School in Phoenix, shouts into a megaphone while rallying to support teachers during a #RedForEd rally at the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix on March 28, 2018. David Wallace/The Republic

Chandra Goff, a supporter of increased teacher pay, makes a sign at the State Capitol in Phoenix on March 28, 2018, as part of the Arizona Day of Action event. Hundreds of teachers and their supporters gathered to push for better pay for teachers in Arizona. Tom Tingle/The Republic

Brent Whiting, a supporter of increased teacher pay, makes a sign at the State Capitol in Phoenix on March 28, 2018, as part of the Arizona Day of Action event. Hundreds of teachers and their supporters gathered to push for better pay for teachers in Arizona. Tom Tingle/The Republic

Karin Cather, a supporter of increased teacher pay, makes a sign at the State Capitol in Phoenix on March 28, 2018, as part of the Arizona Day of Action event. Hundreds of teachers and their supporters gathered to push for better pay for teachers in Arizona. Tom Tingle/The Republic

J.R. Krumland, a special education teacher at Deer Valley High School holds his sign at the State Capitol in Phoenix on March 28, 2018, as part of the Arizona Day of Action event. Hundreds of teachers and their supporters gathered to push for better pay for teachers in Arizona. Tom Tingle/The Republic

Support professionals

Teachers are also demanding competitive pay for all education support professionals, such as teachers' aides and paraprofessionals, though they did not specify dollar figures Wednesday.

CLOSE

Lindsay Breon, a physical-education teacher at Washington Elementary School in Phoenix, shares her feelings at the #RedForEd rally at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix on March 28, 2018. David Wallace/azcentral.com

Permanent salary structure

Another ask from teachers is a "permanent" step-and-lane salary structure in which teachers are guaranteed annual raises and steady advancement in wages.

Organizers did not offer details of this, so the cost to the state is unclear.

The governor's budget proposal also includes $100 million for capital costs. About 30 percent of the $400 million figure is funding for inflation and growth that the state is required to fund.

CLOSE

The Day of Action for Education took place at the State Capitol in Phoenix on March 28, 2018. Hundreds of teachers, their family members and supporters gathered to encourage lawmakers to increase teacher salaries. Tom Tingle/azcentral.com

Reach the reporter at Ricardo.Cano@gannett.com and 602-444-8236. Follow him on Twitter: @Ricardo_Cano1